Chao Restaurant Group Partners With Easterseals Hawaii for Oahu Giving Campaign

Chao Restaurant Group, the hospitality enterprise behind contemporary Vietnamese establishment Chao Hawaiʻi in Nuʻuanu, has partnered with Easterseals Hawaii for a monthlong community fundraising campaign. Under the partnership, the local restaurant group is donating 100 percent of profits from selected seasonal menu offerings across eight Oahu locations. The initiative aims to channel dining sales into direct support for community members with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

The coordinated campaign runs throughout November and culminates on Giving Tuesday on December 1. Participating venues are offering seasonal autumn-themed beverages and desserts created specifically for the effort. By dedicating full profits from these specialty items, the restaurant group allows patrons across Honolulu and surrounding neighborhoods to support island social services through everyday meals.

Easterseals Hawaii has served the island community for decades, delivering specialized care, therapy, and empowerment programs to individuals with diverse needs. Beneficiaries of the organization include children and adults living with conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome. Funding from community initiatives helps sustain customized day programs, youth development efforts, and family support resources designed to foster independence.

The campaign spans four distinct restaurant concepts operating across Oahu under the Chao Restaurant Group banner. In addition to the flagship Chao in Nuʻuanu, participating establishments include Thirty Eight in Iwilei, Nori Bar outposts in Ward and Waikiki, and Paradise Poke storefronts located in Nuʻuanu, Waikiki, Pearl City, and Hawaii Kai. This footprint ensures broad access for diners across both urban Honolulu and suburban communities.

Each participating brand has introduced a dedicated menu item tied to the fundraising push. At both Chao and Thirty Eight, customers can order a specialty Vietnamese iced coffee topped with pumpkin spice cold foam. The drink combines traditional Vietnamese dark-roast coffee and condensed milk with seasonal spices, offering a limited-edition twist on a regular menu staple.

Sweet treats drive the fundraising at the group's other participating counters across the island. Nori Bar locations are featuring pumpkin pie ice cream sourced from Kailua-based artisan shop Please Come Again. Simultaneously, all four Paradise Poke shops are serving a house-made chilled pumpkin crunch dessert, with every dollar of profit from both items directed to Easterseals.

Led by founders Chancelor Kim and Dong Dang, Chao Restaurant Group has become an influential presence in Hawaii’s food and hospitality sector. The group was recently named Honolulu Magazine’s 2026 Hale ‘Aina Restaurateur of the Year in recognition of its creative culinary concepts and steady island expansion. Organizers noted that partnering with established local causes reflects a commitment to investing back into the local community.

For nonprofit service providers like Easterseals Hawaii, collaborations with local eateries offer dual benefits of direct financial aid and broad public outreach. Cause-marketing campaigns introduce community service missions to everyday consumers who might not otherwise engage directly with social service charities. The sustained visibility helps reinforce island-wide discussions around inclusion, accessibility, and community care for people of all abilities.

The promotion remains active across all eight participating locations through the close of Giving Tuesday. Organizers and community advocates hope the seasonal campaign inspires continued engagement between local businesses and nonprofit service providers heading into the holiday season. The final proceeds will be delivered to Easterseals Hawaii to bolster core educational and therapeutic operations statewide.